LOC15:05
12:05 GMT
ZURICH, Feb 12 (KUNA) -- The Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), the elected President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) for the 2025-2027 term, in collaboration with WAIPA, organized a High-Level Forum on Finance, Technology and the Future of Investment Promotion in Zurich.
The event brought together senior decision-makers from the finance, business, and technology sectors, along with heads of investment promotion agencies from around the world.
The forum opened with welcoming remarks delivered by Mohammad Yousef Mulla Yaqoub, Acting Director General of KDIPA and President of WAIPA, Hilda Al-Hinai, Secretary General of the Arab-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director and CEO of WAIPA.
The forum also saw the participation of Abdulmohsen Al-Mukhaizeem, President and CEO of the Kuwait Investment Office in London, along with a leading group of international experts and senior officials.
The forum highlighted financial and technological developments that are contributing to reshaping the global investment landscape, including investment trends in Europe, the role of public and private investments, and the importance of innovation in improving the investment environment and enhancing economies' ability to attract value-added investments.
During the opening session, Mohammad Yousef Mulla Yaqoub delivered a keynote address in which he stated, "As President of WAIPA, we strongly believe in the mission and vision of this organization, which serves as a global platform empowering Investment Promotion Agencies and guiding investors toward destinations offering clarity, stability, and long-term partnerships."
He added, "This year marks 60 years of relations between the State of Kuwait and the Swiss Confederation, and as we gather here in Zurich, I thank all participants for joining this important forum and wish you productive and insightful discussions."
Ismail Ershahin noted that the forum reflects the growing momentum of the role of investment promotion agencies at the global level, adding, "IPAs play an essential role as catalysts and enablers of international investment, and amid current global volatility their importance has never been more important."
The forum also included a specialized training program for Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), "WAIPA IPA Masterclass: Innovating IPA Performance in a Changing Global Investment Landscape," which formed one of its key components.
The program focused on strengthening the capabilities of IPAs and equipping them with practical tools to navigate global economic transformations.
It presented strategic priorities outlined by leading international organizations, helping enhance institutional competitiveness and supporting the shift from traditional promotion activities toward achieving long?term developmental impact.
The discussions further enriched participants' understanding of best practices for advancing innovation and investment driven ecosystems aligned with the requirements of advanced markets and global supply chains.
KDIPA highlighted that the forum represents an important milestone for deepening international partnerships, expanding avenues of cooperation with financial and technological institutions, and exploring new investment opportunities that promote sustainable growth and innovation, including the attraction of high value, added investments that support economic transformation and enhance national competitiveness.
WAIPA was established in 1995 in Geneva, Switzerland, as a global non-profit organization to provide a reference point for the member national and sub-national investment promotion agencies (IPAs) to cooperate, share experiences, facilitate data exchange, and nurture talents, to support their efforts in attracting a rising share of quality FDI that drives sustainable growth and fosters prosperity. (end)
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